Cracked dashboard

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Hi there Amts, why should that matter that you bought it privately ?? Isnt the issue the deployment of the airbag and the fact that the dash pad could be impedeing the way the airbag deploys and the fact that passenger / driver could be blinded (I suppose worse case killed) by the sharp bits of plastic/vinyl from the dash pad getting blasted at them should the airbag need to deploy and the fact from what I have been told (would need to be clarrified by the RTA I suppose) that its a defective vehicle due to the pad been cracked over the airbag ?? Why should it matter where you bough it from ?? What a load of shit (not aimed at you lol) Did they explain to you the reason why the difference ?? Cheers Steve

[Guest Close Guest]

Steve,
In short, it's got to do with consumer law. Believe me, I argued till I was black and blue. So... They need more owners to report the problem.

I also spoke to RAA Technical people and unfortunately, they don't have a trim expert to write a report as to whether it is a defect.

I also spoke to OCBA (SA's version of Fair Trading) and they ask me to get an engineer's report that it is a safety issue. Which was when I called RAA and after that was directed to the ACCC.

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

Has anyone got a copy of the Motor Vehicle ADR? Surely airbag and surrounding structure design is thoroughly covered there.

[Clarksnow Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Clarksnow]

The ACCC complaint form is http://www.productsafety.gov.au/cont...nUnsafeProduct

Go to the section, "Make a Report" and select Australian Competition and Consumer Council

In the problem report section I added...
"Several hundred Prado dashboards are cracking which potentially can cause an issue with the deployment of the passenger airbag and the fact that the dash pad could be impedeing the way the airbag deploys and the fact that passenger / driver could be blinded, injured etc. Pradopoint website has detail"

Unfortunately you can only add 300 alphabet letters, so you need to make it short and detailed. Airbag deployment is an issue until there is proof from an independent organisation (not Toyota) that it is not an issue!!

[Clarksnow Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Clarksnow]

lets all get on board and send those forms in.

Even if you already have had the dashboard replaced, you should be able to get full recompense, including potential 3 days car hire while you are without a vehicle.

we need many more numbers, the ACCC form is simple to fill out, it took me 10 minutes.

[norooz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close norooz]

I to have this problem and i have a 2003 GXL the on top of the cluster display it started cracking the side of the air vents both sides have started to crack and the console area driver side bottom has started to crack....

[paddy81 Member Find all posts View Profile Close paddy81]

Just filled it out and sent it off to I contacted Current Affair and heard nothing back!! I'm over it considering all the replacement quotes we've all had vary in price heaps.. Bring it on I say

[Clarksnow Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Clarksnow]

excellent, thanks Paddy81!!

anyone else going to send in complaint forms to ACCC?, the more we get the more chance of action

65 pages of threads, surely there are many people out there?

Come one lets get this going!!!

[Guest Close Guest]

If you guys can spare a moment to ring the ACCC up and express your displeasure and if all this happens in a short window, the call centre staff will start to get an idea.

[bahamazoo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bahamazoo]

Just chiming back in... after reading this back around when page 40 was fresh, I took my 04 GXL -which has by the way, would have the best display of cracks in existence. It looks like a relief map of the Mekong Delta, joining the extreme left to the far right, with tributaries running down along and around every section of the dash. Stevie Wonder would find it a very terrifying read indeed. I'm actually quite surprised that the instruments and vents all stay put!
I followed my predecessors to Sunshine Toyota and followed protocol, had a photo shoot, went back for the offer, pressed for better than that, and got a 'final answer' of $900 plus fitting...
I didn't / don't have a lazy $1500 laying around, so the delta continues to expand.
I'm both sad and happy that the battle is still on. I will head over to the ACCC presently.

[Guest Close Guest]

The instruments and vents all stay put because that center console is all bolted together as a single unit to another frame.

[bahamazoo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bahamazoo]

G'day amts, yeah understand the assembly, twas but a small attempt at humor.
Dash it all!
Have just filled out ACCC report.

[Amit Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Amit]

I do have similar crack on my 2004 GXL, starts on top of the speedo and stops near the aircon vent !!

[Guest Close Guest]

G'day amts, yeah understand the assembly, twas but a small attempt at humor.

Must have been a slow day for me to miss that attempt at humour

Spoke to Toyota HQ today questioning why I can't pick and choose which dealer to do the work seeing that every dealer is charging differently, why should I be tied down to the first dealer that did the assessment. Got no joy out of them. Then asked if I can pay 50% for the part and I do the work myself (SA tech day anyone?) and got denied that too. Anyway, on to OCBA tomorrow...

I rang CMI in the city and they want 2 days to replace the dash! They quoted 8 hours at $110/hr. I've read the section from the service manual about removing the dash (thanks fourbyphil) and there is surely no way that it takes 8 hours.

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

I did one recently Andrew. It took me about 5 or 6 hours to remove, replace, clean up and road test, ready for the customer. That was being very careful too. The dash I removed was not damaged or cracked. I had to remove it to find a dead rat, and allow access for the electrician to check out and reapair the wiring loom, before I replaced the dash.

I am back at work tomorrow, so can check the book for an exact figure if you like.

8 hours seems too high IMO.

If you do end up doing it yourself, give me a call and I'll talk you through it. There are a couple of tricks that you should be aware of.

Steve